IBA directs media houses to submit broadcast recordings for review

The Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) has directed all radio and television stations to submit their broadcast recordings for periodic review.

In a statement released today, IBA Director General Josephine Mapoma says all radio and television stations in the country must submit broadcast recordings to the Authority every after two weeks.

“The public may wish to know that one of the functions of the Authority is to enforce the compliance of broadcasting with the conditions of the licences issued under the Act. In this regard, the Authority has inspectors that over the years have relied on post monitoring of stations, owing to the fact that the Authority is not present in all the districts where broadcasting stations exist. Therefore, to ease the monitoring, the Authority now requires stations to submit recordings every two weeks. This directive is with effect from 15th May, 2019,” Mapoma said.

“The recordings to be submitted shall consist of:
I. All discussion programmes, including paid for programmes (where applicable)
II. All talk shows (where applicable)
III. All news bulletins and news analysis (where applicable); and
IV. All musical programmes
Other types of content such as movies and dramas among others shall be requested for on the need basis”

Mapoma also stated that this new directive is also pursuant to Section 38 of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) (Principal) Act No. 17 of 2002 which provides that: ’A broadcasting Licensee shall keep and store sound and video recordings of all programmes broadcast or re-broadcast for a minimum period of three months after the date of transmission … or for such further period as may be directed by the Board…, and on demand by the Board produce such material that has been broadcast for examination or reproduction’.

And Mapoma has warned that editing of the recordings so as to alter the original content shall constitute a breach.

She has revealed that correspondence with all radio and television stations on this new directive has since commenced by mail.

Mapoma says all radio and television stations are being asked to submit their editorial polices to the Authority if they have not yet done so.

She says this is in accordance to Section 22 (5) (d) of the IBA (Amendment) Act of 2010 which provides: ‘… without Prejudice to the generality of Subsection 9i), the conditions of the broadcasting licence may – require the licensee or any other person concerned in providing any service authorised by the licence to furnish to the Authority such documents, accounts, returns, estimates and other information as the Board considers necessary for the purpose of exercising or performing the powers and functions of the Authority under this Act’.